Baron's War

by Griff Hosker

Scottish Raid

  Chapter 10

  I was too busy during the next month to make either visit. York and Durham would have to wait. To be truthful I was reluctant to go. There would be confrontation and I feared, despite the presence of Father Roger, that my title would be rejected. We began to build the walls of the new warrior hall and when they were as high as a man I sent Sir Edward and his men, along with Father Abelard to begin work on Wulfestun. I had sent Captain Henry back to La Flèche with hides. The manor still produced a good quantity and they would fetch a higher price in Anjou. There were other items which we were able to send to trade. We had iron from the Eston Hills and we had seal skins taken from the basking seals. It was little enough but it was trade and I was keen to maintain the links. The cut in the Tees would have to wait until we had a hall and another church.

  Most of my men were put to work on the moat around the hall. We called it a ditch but it was a moat. With arrow slits in the walls and a fighting platform it would be a tower which housed warriors. I would have liked a curtain wall but that might be deemed to make my hall a castle. We extended the moat around the hall. It helped to drain it and we used a bridge across it. Instead of a curtain wall I put the burghers to work repairing the town wall. It had fallen into disrepair. To be fair the decay had begun when I was a child but that had been because the town wall was unnecessary so long as the castle stood. Without the castle it became a necessity. My aunt showed me the buildings which had been destroyed in the last Scottish raid.

  “Aunt, are these raiders brigands or are they led by lords?”

  “A mixture. Knights lead large warbands.” She smiled, “That was a word my grandfather, the Warlord, used and it fits. They sweep down from the north using the high ground to the west. They take cattle and sheep. We are a large town and with no castle we invite danger for they take the young girls.”

  “Young girls?”

  “Brides or whores; they do not seem to differentiate their function. It is why the town has far fewer people. Many fled south of the river. The fords are much further west and when they attack we anchor the ferry on the south bank. They were not strong enough to attack the hall.”

  My aunt was not a warrior but that told me much about the men who came south. They were brigands masquerading beneath a Scottish standard. They were old fashioned raiders. If they were anything else then the hall would have fallen. We needed warning and if they were a warband they would not have discipline. My aunt told me that refugees fleeing south gave them warning of raiders. The next time they came they would have a shock. I had sixty-five warriors ready to greet them. Our problem was horses. We only had thirty horses. I could not mount my archers. Horses were a priority. Luckily Sir William’s horses were available for breeding and I had the stable master, Ethelred, begin to breed them. When we had coin, I would buy horses. Until then I would have to make do with what we had.

  Alfred was growing and although we did not have enough full-size horses we had many ponies and as he was big enough now I gave him his own and we took to riding my land. I showed him where there had been castles when I was young and where there had been halls. It saddened him that all we saw were a few houses and spaces where the halls had been destroyed by a vindictive Hugh de Puiset.

  “Do we get to build them again?”

  I shook my head. “In the time of the Warlord things were different. Now the Bishop of Durham decides where the castles may be built. It will make life hard for us but we will prevail.

  Winter was approaching and the work on the hall became urgent. By the time we had had the bone fire the outside of the hall and the church were finished. The first, early snow came at the beginning of November. We had to make the roofs quickly or all our work on the interior would have been in vain. To those who had not been with me in the Baltic the snows came as something of a shock. Luckily the snow did not remain on the ground but it was a warning.

  My ship returned with much needed money and two barrels of wine. They were a gift from my former burghers. Captain Henry left to make profit for himself. The Tees froze during harsh winters and we would not see him again until the spring. It made us feel even more isolated.

  I was toying with the idea of visiting Durham before Christmas hoping to find the Bishop in a charitable mood when a rider came from Sir Edward, “Lord we have refugees from Fissebourne. The Scots are raiding!”

  “Tell Sir Edward that we come!”

  My aunt’s face showed the pain of the memory of the other raids. She said, “Thomas our people have suffered enough.”

  “And they will suffer no more. Fótr fetch Ridley and David of Wales and then saddle Skuld.” I went to my chamber to don my hauberk. Since my return I had reinstituted the Sunday archery practice. Sir William had not maintained the training. David of Wales had been appalled at the poor standard. It was improving but now, at least, there would be burghers on the walls with bows to defend themselves. By the time I reached the hall armed and mailed, my captains of archers and men at arms were there.

  “David of Wales, I charge you with the defence of my hall and town. Had we more horses then I would have taken some of you with me. As it is we will have to do with men at arms.”

  “Fear not lord all will be safe with us.”

  “Ridley, I want every man at arms mounted.”

  “Aye lord, they are already saddling their horses. Whither do we ride?”

  “North to Wulfestun first. Fissebourne is twelve miles from here. I suspect they will raid Wulfestun when they are finished at Fissebourne. With Sir Edward there they are in for a shock.”

  Fótr had spears ready and he handed me a spear, my shield and my helmet. This would be the first time my gryphon would be seen in England for some time. I would make the Scots rue their foray south.

  Edward only had six mounted men. When we reached him, there were just four of them ready with Sir Edward. “I have sent two of my more experienced men north to the Durham Road to scout out the Scots.”

  “How many Scots are there?”

  He shook his head, “The twenty people who fled here were terrified. According to them there were hundreds but I know that is an exaggeration. They said there were knights. They had big horses and wore mail. They said there were five and I am inclined to believe that number.”

  I dismounted. “There is no point in tiring out our horses and we can do nothing until we know where they are.” My men all dismounted as did Sir Edward and his men. When I swung from leg from my saddle I saw that he had dug a ditch around the hall and the huts of the villagers. It would not stop an attack but it would make an assault more difficult. I said, “You need a banner.”

  He shook his head, “Lord, I was a man at arms and I need no standard.”

  “You do and you need one which will mark you as my knight. I have just two of you to command and one is many miles south. The Scots are intimidated by our banners. Have a banner made.”

  He looked mystified. “But I wear your surcoat!”

  “You have a manor. Whatever we take from these raiders, use it to have a surcoat and banner made. Your men need to be identified on the field and by our foes. I want them to fear us.”

  He looked confused still but he nodded, “Aye lord, but it seems a waste of good coin.”

  “You will learn.”

  His two men rode in a little after noon. Richard Tallboy reined in and pointed north. “They are heading down the Durham road. They have left some of their men south of Fissebourne with the animals and captives. There are four knights and their squires. They ride palfreys and not warhorses. They have sixty or so men. They are not mailed and few have helmets. If I was to speak the truth lord they look like bandits. They have no scouts out. They ride confidently as though this is their land.”

  To many other warriors the odds would have seemed high but my men were all mailed. We were experienced and knew how each of our shield brothers fought. The fact that we were mounted also gave us an advantage. I turned to Edward, “They will be
coming here. Where is the best place to stop them?”

  “Two miles north of here, lord, the road passes through land which undulates. There are woods on both side of the road. I know a place where we could use the undergrowth and the trees for cover. As they came up the road we could hit them. Or we could split our forces and send some behind them.”

  I shook my head. “We are too few in number. We hit their knights and then fall upon the men on foot. If Richard is correct and they have neither mail nor helmets then all of our blows should hurt them. I will follow you!”

  Edward mounted and shouted, “Jack! You command the men I leave. Use the men from the village to fight!”

  Jack son of John nodded, “Aye lord. Your hall will still be here when you return! This time they will not find it unguarded.”

  We rode in a column of twos. My men followed Edward’s. His squire, Gilles rode behind Edward. All of the men I led wore my surcoat and followed my standard. That would have to change.”

  I shouted over my shoulder as we rode. “Fótr you, Ridley and Godwin of Battle will flank me. We will wait below the crest of the road and when we hear them we will ride to draw them on. The rest of you will be spread out on both sides of the road and remain hidden. When they come for us you will attack from their flanks. Pass the word.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I counted on the fact that the Scots did not know that there was a new lord. They would expect it to be old Sir William. They had raided with impunity before. The recent cold weather and early warning of snow had made them decide to use our valley to supply themselves. Further north, closer to their own homes, there were too many castles: Norham, Morpeth, Warkworth, Alnwick. All had good garrisons and would stop any incursions. That was why they had come from the north west. The high, bleak ground would hide them.

  We dropped down one gentle slope and I saw woods to the left and right of the road ahead. There was a crest. Sir Edward reined in, “That is the spot I had in mind.”

  “Good then you and Godfrey take our men and spread them out on both sides of the road. You need not me to teach you how to ambush. When they approach give a treble whistle. We four will appear and draw them to us.”

  “Will they attack?”

  “This time they will for they will see four men. They know not me. I have never fought the Scots. It has been more than twenty years since my father rode these roads. We will be forgotten. After today then things may well be different.”

  “Aye lord.”

  I dismounted and the other three followed suit. We walked to just below the crest. I handed my reins to Fótr and walked to spy out the land. Edward was right. It was perfect. There was a steep slope and the road curved just three hundred paces from us. They would turn the bend and then they would begin to climb the slope. When Edward whistled we would move towards the crest. We had plenty of time to walk our horses to the crest. I saw that my men were disappearing into the trees. Edward and Godfrey knew their business. They walked them there so as to minimise the disturbance and damage to the trees. When they had disappeared, I walked back to the horses and my men.

  “And now we wait.”

  Ridley had some dried venison. He cut a piece off and offered it to me, “Dried meat, lord?”

  “Aye. It will moisten my mouth.” I chewed. We had found that chewing made us less thirsty. I did not understand it for the meat had been dried but it worked and the act of chewing had a calming effect. “Wait for my command to charge. Fótr, today you try to kill a knight. There is no point in seeking ransom. If they are raiding for slaves and cattle with brigands then they will not have enough coin to pay ransom. Their mail, helmets and horses are more valuable. Do not get carried away. Edward, Godfrey and the rest can deal with the bulk of their men. I have chosen the best to be with me for I wish us to win.”

  Fótr nodded, “And the captives and the animals, lord?”

  “If we succeed then we rescue them next!”

  Edward’s whistle came a short time later. We donned our helmets and we mounted. We could hear the noise of hooves and the chatter and laughter of men who had yet to lose a man. This was a warband which had enjoyed the freedom to kill, steal and rape. They were in for a shock. When we were all mounted I nodded and, with my spear in my right hand and my shield pulled up we walked to the crest. I saw them. They were a third of the way up. The horsemen were at the fore and the rest were spread out in an untidy tangle.

  As soon as we were spied there was a commotion amongst the Scots. They saw four mailed men. The leading knight drew his sword and urged his men forward. Despite the fact that the knights and squires were mounted the men on foot kept very close to the horsemen for the first thirty or so paces as they hurried to get at us before we could flee. That suited us. Edward and Godfrey would have more success if the enemy were packed together and unable to use their weapons effectively. I did not move and that would worry the knights. They would ask themselves why? Doubt and indecision never helped a warrior. You had to be committed. The four knights filled the road and the squires rode behind. When they were just a hundred paces from us I spurred Skuld.

  I had my spear across my cantle and I chose the leading knight as my target. He had been the one to shout commands. He had an old fashioned open face helmet. His mail was made of overlapping scales. His sword was shorter than mine. His shield was not as long as that which we used. It did not cover his lower leg as mine did. I took all of that in as we charged towards each other. I moved my spear to the right. I saw him switch his horse so that he would take the spear on his shield. I watched, as we closed, and saw him begin to move his shield up for he thought I would go for his head or his chest. I pulled my arm back for we were barely twenty paces from each other. He was, obligingly, standing in his stirrups with his sword raised. He intended to strike down on me as I extended my arm to spear him. I thrust, not at his chest, as he expected, but at his unprotected thigh. My spear head tore through his chausses and into his saddle. The impact broke off the head.

  As his squire approached with a sword ready to hack at me I rammed the broken end of the spear at his face. It tore into his eye and then into his skull. Ahead of me I saw my men as they ripped into the Scots. I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Fótr was struggling to deal with the knight who faced him. However, before I could get to him I had a second squire to deal with. He was fast and he was keen. He wore no mail beneath his surcoat. It was leather. I barely blocked his strike as I drew my sword but the action drove his blade into the air. I stood and punched him in the head with my shield. He tumbled from the saddle.

  Using my knees to guide Skuld I rode at the knight who was in danger of defeating Fótr. These were raiders. This was not a battle. There was no honour in the combat. I brought my sword across his back. I felt it grate along his spine. His back arced and the sword and shield fell from his lifeless limbs. He tumbled over the back of his horse.

  The other two knights were dead. I saw the last two squires look at each other and, wheeling their horses, fled the field. As they ploughed through their own men they added to the confusion of the attack on their flanks. As their horses trampled some of their own men so others joined the two squires in flight. I turned Skuld and headed down the road to help Edward and Godfrey slay as many as we could. A sweep with my sword at head height took one man in the head. I swung my sword from on high to bite into the shoulder of a second. It did not take much for the rest to flee. Fighting farmers with bill hooks and scythes was one thing, facing mailed men with good swords was entirely something else. They fled. My men pursued them.

  I saw that Edward and Godfrey had survived. I turned to see how Fótr fared. Godwin had taken my squire’s helmet from him and there was blood. Godwin said, “The young master was lucky, lord. He has a well-made helmet and that saved him.”

  I nodded, “Collect the horses.” I saw that the knight I had hit with my spear had bled to death. I had struck something vital.

  “Aye lord.”

  “Ri
dley, search the knights and squires. See what they have on them. I would know who they are.”

  Fótr shook his head, “I am sorry lord. I am not yet ready to face a knight.”

  “It was wrong of me to ask you. You acquitted yourself well. Practice with Godwin and Godfrey. You will improve.” I turned. I could not see my men and so I said, “Fótr, sound the horn. We still have some captives to recover.”

  The horn sounded three times. Sir Edward and Godfrey had not joined the others in the pursuit. They had ensured that none of those lying on the field was feigning death. “Did we lose any?”

  Sir Edward shook his head. “We surprised them and we wore mail. There are four who have wounds.”

  “Then send them back to your hall with the horses. The ones you left there can join us.”

  “We go on?”

  “There are English captives at Fissebourne. We go to their aid. When the men are back have them water the horses. We have a short rest and then we head north.”

  Ridley had returned with the coins, rings and seals. “You know, lord, that the squires will have warned them.”

  “Perhaps but if you were the Scots would you wish to return empty handed? They cannot outrun us for we are mounted. They will take the best of what they have and hope that we delay the pursuit. We will not!”

  We headed north at a steady pace. I had Fótr at the rear. Although his helmet had taken the force of the knight’s sword I was concerned. I hoped that we would not need him to fight. I did not have scouts out. Until Edward’s other men joined us there would be too few of us to split our forces. Sir Edward rode with me.

  “These were wild men, lord. Most of them had tattooed bodies. Six of them fought bare chested! Bare chested in this weather! They must be desperate.”

  I shook my head, “It is an easier life to take from others than produce yourself. Scotland is a poor country. They think that they can raid here with impunity. The lords of Northumbria have shown us the way. They have strong castles and knights who are ready to use their weapons. When time allows I will ride north to speak with them.”